MARA Act of 2025
Congress pushes offshore fish-farming pilots, permits, and grants, with new NOAA aquaculture office
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Creates a new NOAA Office of Aquaculture to run offshore fish-farming research, permitting, and outreach.
- Requires NOAA to set up a time-limited “assessment program” using real-world offshore fish-farm demo projects to test safety, storm durability, pollution controls, and wildlife protections.
- Sets rules for permits: projects must use native (or long-established) species, plan for escapes and disasters, limit antibiotic use, and follow major environmental laws; states and Tribes near a project can comment or object.
- Starts grant programs to train workers and improve the industry’s public image, plus funds Aquaculture Centers of Excellence at certain colleges and universities.
- Creates grants to help protect and improve “working waterfronts” (like docks and access points), and orders independent studies and reports to guide future rules.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
6 articlesOffshore aquaculture advocates send joint letter to US lawmakers pushing for MARA passage
Reports on a 140-signatory letter urging Congress to pass the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act (S.2586/H.R.5746), highlighting permitting pathway, demonstration projects, and federal-waters framework.
Stronger America Through Seafood and Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture Join Together to Co-Lead Letter of Support for the Bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act
Announcement of a joint advocacy letter supporting MARA Act (S.2586/H.R.5746), describing the bill’s goals around an offshore aquaculture assessment program, permitting structure, and related investments.
Offshore Aquaculture Coalition Urges Congress to Pass MARA Act
Newsletter item summarizing coalition support urging passage of the MARA Act, emphasizing NOAA assessment program, permit timelines, and funding for working waterfronts and workforce development.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
MARA Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.